The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-03
NUMBER At.
/ Ten Years AGO and Now-Th. city OF
| Palms aud of Fountains


T About ten years ago, one of the
Schooners running between Daytona.
10 New Smyrna and Jacksonville, brought
5 party ON their way to Florida. Ii was
their first trip, They left country
where Il was showing, and now the
beautiful river Halifax was admired by
them, II was sunset when they cast an
eh"r opposite Daytona, Two boys of the
party secured a rowboat and soon found
some oysters, which they ate with keen
relish. IL was the first time they gath
cred oysters after the party landed. The
palmetto and oak trees. which are such
good shade trees, were looked al with
admiration. They noticed that the river
seemed lined with oyster shell. Then
they looked for the town which they
heard was just incorporated They were
disappointed. There were SO few houses
10 be seem Only two stores, one school
house, on" saWmill, one hotel and one
boarding house. No church building, no
newspaper and "A weekly mail! Surely
this town would bear no comparison to
TIA" village they left. There was am air
of decided humbleness about most of
ia" dwellings of these pioneers. The
whole presented an unfinished picture
made pretty by the beautiful growths
for which Florida is noted: many Of the
houses were not completed. The
grounds about the dwellings were merely
underbrushed and some Of the trees re-
moved. Almost everywhere the ground
was coyeredwith young palmetto, brush
and tall struggling grass. very few
green lawns peeped out of the wilder
ness, II seemed more like a wilderness
than a town.
Til" natural growths of Florida are so
different and tropical looking, that il was
very attractive Ia the newcomers. Just
paint IN the picture an occasional pass
! ing of some cart drawn by "A mule
whose activity suggests the possibility
that he may have come out of Noah's
ark. sometimes a marsh pony galloping
! by then few men, women and children
passing. Now add Ia this the passing Of
boats on the river and you have the sum
of Daytona's activity in those days. Old
Neptune greeted the newcomers with
just as much roaring, presenting the
same grandeur, and sending his chill
dren. the waves, who with outstretched
arms Of welcome, reached far over the
level beach and lavished their treasures
of shell and moss on the sand at our feet
just ns they do now,
Well, il is AN easy task 10 close ones
eyes and think back ten years. Memory
viii bring back the picture. Those boys
who began with few oysters have
caught many hundred pounds OF fish,
shot many deer, turkeys and ducks, be-
sides squirrels and other small game, and
have gathered many turtle eggs on the
ocean beach. They have grown TO be
men. and have fine orange groves. Day
tona has grown! Had imagination been
AT work alone, no greater change could
have been wrought in the picture.
About six years ago DaytOna had her
first boom. Property steadily advanced
in price. Visitors who wished TO secure
"A southern home and saw how desirable
Daytona was, purchased here. Steadily
il keeps rising. Steadily and surely
Daytona has advanced, until she stands
first among the cities on the East Coast
south of st. Augustine, having six build
ings dedicated Ia churc h services, some
of them quite venerable looking, four
schools. two private and two public, one
Of them graded, twenty stores, three ice
cream and lunch saloons, daily mail.
ferry running at all hours from Daytona
Ia the peninsula, an elegant steamboat
running daily To New Smyrna and back.
e.. 1t
ing houses, two meat wagons, supply
Of baked things, such as bread, biscuit,
etc. and one milk wagon pass our doors
daily. and one can select Chicago or
Florida beef
We have one sanitarium, we have all
kinds Of surgeons and doctors. lawyers.
real estate agents, music teachers,
handsome depot and a railroad; yes, the
cars actually come and go daily except
on Sunday, and we are to have bank.
The building is being arranged. There,
there am afraid you will think | am
proud and Dragging. Just think how
you would feel il you had not heard or
seen the cars for ten years.
My picture is not completed. Hand
some residences are scattered thfOngh-
ont the city. The streets are cleared and
improved. a nice green lawn I'm front OF
the house Is the rule Beautiful horses
and carriages may be seen at all hours
of the day on the street, and at times the
street j. thronged with people all hurry
ing on. | forgot 10 mention we have
two printing houses, each giving ms
wide-awake paper; a band that enter
tains us with its music, dramatic club,
a temperance society, also two livery
stables. and two saw mills. What IL the
reason of this wondrous change inquiries
some pleased visitor We answer, Day
tona has many natural attractions among
which are her beautiful shade trees.
Truly she deserves 10 be called "The
City Of Palms" and then the beautiful
shell front which Is really a solid oyster
shell bank affords us splendid
street. The ocean beach oppo-
site Daytona cannot be excelled
for its width and firmness and is as level
as "A marble floor. and may become a
splendid driving place. we think. Day
tOna has 50 many flowing wells which
furnish clear cold drinking water that
she may justly be called "A Fountain
City. This boom" that Daytona now
has ~ the greatest she has had and time
alone will decide where she will stop.
Pspai Appointments.
ROMR, May 2,--Cardinal Rampolla has
been appointed Papal Secretary Of State;
Nor Apliardi Secondary Of Exfranrdf-